The murder of the college professor Mr Sabharwal when he was supervising the student's election in Ujjain comes a shocker and sadly exposes the intolerance of the present student community and the impact of its politicization. I have always admired the teaching profession as one of the best professions one can choose (may be bacause my father is a teacher) although it hardly pays one well. I wonder what do these highly qualified teachers do at these institutions when, if they use their talent properly, they can earn as much or definitely more in the corporate sector. While there could be exceptions, I have always felt that these people are compromising on all these mainly to pass on their knowledge to others and at the same time, continue to learn by being in academics field.

I myself being a student have a not so good opinion about the quality of professors in my college. I have been and continue to be one of the staunch critics of my college professors and the way they teach. But all said and done, all they endeavor to do is to pass on what they know to us. Though criticizing, I don't think I have the guts (atleast now) to leave a lucrative job and join a teaching profession where it is very difficult to satisfy the student's needs. One also needs to be always updated on the subject as many students already know the subject in most of the cases and its important that they are driven in the right direction. For all these, there has to be a passion for the profession else one just cannot continue in it for a long time.

Coming back to the topic, the killing of the professor is just not a one-off incident of student intolerance and their high handedness. They feel that they are above law because they are considered the future of the nation. You cannot have a better future of a corrupted past. There have been many cases of violence during student elections . In my hometown of Chennai, I have seen/heard of a lot of incidences during what they call 'bus day', when invariably many buses are damaged resulting in lacs of damages to public property. And this ragging menace.

So, where are we heading? I am not sounding pessimistic saying that the entire future generation is corrupted, but it is high time such intolerant and anti-social activities by the students are strongly condemned and strict action taken against the perpetrators. If what we saw a couple of months back during student uprising against reservation can be a testimony to what will happen if students unite for a good cause, what we see today stands a testimony to what will happen if they take law in their own hands and go against the system. It is time for us, as students, to understand the dangers of politicization and polarization on filthier grounds.